Beyond Mysticism: Documenting the Healing Culture of Siquijor
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A Life That Did Not Begin in Research
For Dr. Josel B. Mansueto, Professor VI at Siquijor State College, the path to becoming a social scientist was never part of a planned future. She once imagined herself becoming a lawyer or even a soldier, drawn more to history, documentaries, and the idea of service than to academia.
Her academic background began with Political Science at Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology, followed by a Master’s in Public Administration. Later, she completed a Doctorate in Instructional System and Resource Management in University of San Jose-Recoletos in Cebu City. Research, however, was never her original intention.
In high school, she excelled more in science and mathematics than in social studies. She initially aimed for engineering, but after falling short of entrance requirements, she followed her mother’s advice to take Political Science, a decision that would quietly change her life’s direction.
The First Encounter with Research
Her first experience with research came during her undergraduate thesis. It was a difficult introduction, requiring interviews and fieldwork that she had never done before.
“I really didn’t have any topic,” she recalled asking her research adviser. The response was simple but powerful: there are so many problems in the world, you only need to find one.
That moment became a turning point. Through completing her thesis, she was introduced to the process of inquiry, analysis, and discovery, laying the foundation for a career she never expected.
A Career That Shifted Across Paths
After graduation, she pursued a career outside academia, beginning in the hospitality industry in Iligan City and Davao City before moving into a role as an HR manager for a Manila-based human resource agency supporting employment in the Middle East. Her early professional years were marked by constant movement, adjustment, and reinvention.
Following her marriage, she relocated to Siquijor due to her husband’s work and accepted a permanent clerical position at Siquijor State College. Although it meant taking a lower rank and salary, it offered much-needed stability. At the same time, she began teaching part-time, an experience that gradually sparked her passion for education.
This stage of her life reflects a reality shared by many career women. Balancing work, marriage, and relocation often requires difficult choices. She experienced how opportunities can become more limited for women after marriage and how rebuilding a career in a new place demands both sacrifice and resilience. Yet Dr. Mansueto also saw that each challenge carried a possible solution, whether through adaptation, shifting roles, or starting again from a different entry point.
Entering the World of Research
Dr. Mansueto’s exposure to research deepened during her time in the college president’s office and further expanded when she later assumed the role of research director. In this capacity, she developed a stronger understanding of public research funding, identified pressing issues in Siquijor that required study, and engaged with various institutions to pursue collaborative research initiatives.
A major turning point came when she was invited to lead the social science component of a CHED-funded research project titled Socio-Economic Contribution of Señora River, Siquijor, in collaboration with Silliman University. This marked her first major research engagement after relocating to Siquijor.
The project opened opportunities for externally funded research, including support from the Department of Agriculture for a study on Organizational and Enterprise Needs Assessment and Design Assessment of Vegetable Production in Siquijor as a Study member. She also led the DILG-TA funded research on the Citizen Satisfaction Index System (CSIS) of the municipality of Siquijor where the output, a training program for the POSTADA (Province of Siquijor Tourist Accredited Drivers Association) became one of the identified Best Practices in the country. She later became involved in DOST-supported initiatives focusing on the documentation of the island’s traditional healing systems.
With guidance from DOST, DOST-PCHRD and Dr. Sia from UP-Manila, and partner institutions such as Negros Oriental State University and Silliman University, she and her team strengthened their capacity in field research, documentation, and community engagement.
The Healing Island and the Challenge of Trust
One of the most significant studies she led, Folk Healing Practices of Siquijor Island: Documentation of Traditional Knowledge and Practices of Health and Development of Traditional Knowledge Digital Library on Health, focused on folk healing practices in Siquijor. The island, often associated with mysticism, “mangkukulam,” and supernatural beliefs, presented both fascination and misunderstanding.
Dr. Mansueto recalls that early fieldwork was met with hesitation from local healers who had already experienced repeated research from outsiders. Some were wary, while others were cautious about being documented. The team addressed this by engaging communities openly, holding consultations, and explaining the purpose of the research.
Over time, trust was built.
It was during this work that Siquijor’s identity as “the healing island” became more than a tagline. It was reframed from its earlier tourism branding image as simply a mystical place, into a community where healing is understood in physical, emotional, social and spiritual dimensions.
Findings from the Field: Folk Healing in Siquijor
Dr. Josel Mansueto’s research on Siquijor’s folk healing practices reveals a deeply rooted system shaped by environment, belief, and community trust, documented through extensive fieldwork across Mt. Bandilaan, coastal areas, river system, and rural barangays.
Fieldwork often began at 3:00 in the morning and lasted until nightfall, following healers as they gathered medicinal plants. Despite the demanding schedule, the work highlighted healers as both practitioners and stewards of the environment, practicing selective harvesting and showing strong respect for ecological balance.
A key finding is that illness is locally defined differently from biomedical standards. A person is often not considered sick unless they are unable to function. Because of this, healers are usually consulted first due to proximity and trust, while hospitals are sought only when local remedies are no longer effective.
Healing practices include pulse reading, candle interpretation, string methods, and use of materials like tawas in water to diagnose conditions. Healers also recognize their limits and refer patients to hospitals when needed, forming a complementary rather than competing system of care.
Plant knowledge is largely experiential and intuitive, with forests described as a “pharmacy” of natural medicine. The team documented over 400 plant species, some potentially endemic, and recorded both local and scientific names due to variations across municipalities.
Building on the discovery of various herbal medicines, Dr. Mansueto expressed strong interest in pursuing interdisciplinary research that links traditional herbal practices with pharmacological studies. Advancing this direction requires the inclusion of a pharmacology expert, in line with the requirements of the Grants-in-Aid (GIA) program of the Department of Science and Technology. To address this, Dr. Mansueto is currently strengthening her research team by seeking collaboration with specialists in pharmacology.
Siquijor’s healing system also blends herbal, spiritual, and religious elements, including holy water and candles, reflecting a culturally integrated practice rather than contradiction. Ethical norms are observed, with voluntary exchange preferred over fixed payments.
Access to healing is shaped by trust and geography, with people often consulting nearby healers they know personally, especially in areas with limited transport. This creates a practical, community-based system of first-line care deeply embedded in everyday life.
Beyond Research: A Life of Movement and Responsibility
Outside Dr. Mansueto’s academic work, she finds balance in watching documentaries, listening to music, and traveling with her son. These interests reflect her lifelong curiosity about stories, history, and human experience.
At home, she shares a close bond with her son, often spending time watching documentaries together. Family life, however, has also involved long periods of adjustment due to professional movement and separation caused by work.
Her experience reflects a broader reality faced by many women balancing career advancement, marriage, relocation, and motherhood. Career stability is often not linear. It requires adaptation, compromise, and persistence.
Yet her journey also shows that challenges often come with solutions, even if they require starting over, shifting roles, or taking unexpected paths.
Siquijor as a Place of Healing and Identity
Over time, Siquijor has transformed its public identity. Once seen mainly through the lens of mysticism, it is now actively promoted as “the healing island.”
For Dr. Mansueto, this is more than a tourism tagline. It reflects a deeper truth about the island’s people and culture. Healing here is not only physical but also emotional and spiritual. Visitors are welcomed into a community that values connection, reflection, and hospitality.
Dr. Mansueto believes that staying in Siquijor allows people to slow down, reflect, and experience a different kind of restoration.
A message to the youth
Research is not something to fear.
It is a process of discovery that cannot be fully replicated by media, technology, or secondhand stories. It is a personal journey into unknown worlds, where each question can lead to new understanding.
Dr. Mansueto encourages young people to begin slowly, perhaps as research assistants or study members, and allow curiosity to grow over time.
Ultimately, her story is one of movement, uncertainty, and transformation. From an uncertain student to a researcher documenting the healing traditions of Siquijor, her journey shows that life paths are not fixed. They evolve.
And in that evolution lies the most important lesson of all: every problem carries within it the possibility of a solution, if one is willing to look closely enough to find it beyond mysticism.
From the Neighborhood Courts to the Halls of Science: The Inspiring Journey of Dr. Rolando T. Candidato, Jr.
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He didn’t choose Physics—Physics chose him, or more precisely, his mother did. When a DOST-SEI scholarship offered the highest allowance for the course, she told him, “Take Physics. It has the biggest allowance.” That single, practical decision set Dr. Rolando T. Candidato Jr. on a lifelong path of discovery and innovation.
Known to his family as Jun-jun, and to friends and colleagues simply as Tano, he grew from a curious boy in Iligan City into one of the country’s promising physicists—an Outstanding Young Scientist recognized for advancing plasma spray technology in the Philippines. His journey from humble beginnings to scientific excellence is a story of perseverance, purpose, and the power of saying yes to unexpected opportunities.
Humble Beginnings of a Scientist
Dr. Rolando T. Candidato Jr., who hails from Ubaldo D. Laya in Iligan City, spent his formative years surrounded by a vibrant and close-knit community. He attended Ubaldo D. Laya Memorial School, where he consistently excelled in his studies and graduated as class valedictorian in 1999.
His mother ran a small sari-sari store—open some days, closed on others—while his father, a military man, was often away on duty. With three other siblings close in age, expenses like school fees and daily allowances were a challenge, so Dr. Candidato learned early on to find ways to earn. As a young boy, he cleaned a neighbor’s house, washed cars, and even helped transport goods from nearby towns. He often played billiards in their neighborhood, and sometimes older players would pay him to compete on their behalf. Winning a game meant extra money—enough to buy small things or help his mother. These early experiences taught him the value of resourcefulness and determination.
Despite these responsibilities, Dr. Candidato remained active in school and the community. He joined sports and journalism contests, played baseball, sepak takraw, and basketball, and developed lasting friendships across neighboring barangays. His exposure to different social environments—both stable and struggling—helped him understand people from all walks of life and sharpened his sense of adaptability.
He also grew up aware of the challenges in his surroundings, including the prevalence of vices like gambling and drugs. Yet, guided by his father’s discipline and his own sense of purpose, Dr. Candidato avoided such influences. He preferred to spend his energy into studies, sports, and side hustles to save for his allowance.
Discovering a Passion for Science
In high school, Dr. Candidato’s love for sports continued. He spent entire weekends playing basketball with friends, starting early in the morning and ending at late night. His competitiveness, first shaped in the neighborhood courts, soon carried over to academics. Though he began high school in the fourth section, by his second year he had moved up to the first section and became an honor student.
Initially, he preferred history and politics over the sciences. But in his third year, a teacher changed everything—his physics teacher, Mr. Dennis Laput. Strict yet brilliant, Mr. Laput could answer every question and explain how forces, motion, and energy governed the world. Dr. Candidato was captivated. Physics, he realized, could explain almost everything.
Through his childhood experiences, Dr. Candidato cultivated qualities that would later shape his journey as a scientist—curiosity, perseverance, and resilience. His early life taught him not just how to survive, but how to observe, analyze, and learn from the world around him—a foundation that would guide his scientific path in the years to come.
A Turning Point: From Restless Student to Aspiring Physicist
By his fourth year in high school, Dr. Candidato began to lose focus after years of diligence. Having spent nearly a decade striving for top grades, he felt burned out. Still, despite his absences, he managed to stay within the top fifteen of his class.
When graduation came, life took an unexpected turn—his younger brother fell ill with dengue hemorrhagic fever, straining the family’s limited finances. In the midst of these challenges, Dr. Candidato took the DOST-SEI scholarship examination—a test he would later describe as the hardest he had ever taken.
When results came out, he passed both the DOST scholarship and the entrance exam for the Mindanao State University–Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT). He was ready to enroll in Accountancy when his mother intervened:
“Choose the course with the highest allowance,” she said. “Take Physics.”
Reluctant but obedient, Dr. Candidato followed her advice—unaware that this choice would define his life’s direction.
Finding His Place in Physics
When he entered MSU-IIT in 2003, Physics was unfamiliar territory. But his DOST scholarship gave him purpose—and an allowance of ₱3,450 a month gave him independence. He joined the Summer Orientation and Enrichment Program for DOST-SEI scholars, where he met lifelong friends and gained the confidence to thrive in college.
Though he struggled in his first years, he persisted. His classmates shared notes and encouragement; his professors challenged him. He played basketball on the side, served as Sports Committee Co-chairperson in the College of Science and Mathematics, and became known by his nickname, Tano—a name derived from his middle initial, Rolando Tano Candidato Jr.—that would later carry into his professional life.
Physics demanded discipline, and Dr. Candidato learned it the hard way. One professor, Dr. Joselito Uy, became a turning point. Known for his brilliance and strictness, Dr. Uy’s approach in Linear Algebra nearly caused Dr. Candidato to fail, but his persistence and determination not only earned him a passing grade, it became one of his most formative experiences under a truly remarkable teacher.
By his senior year, he had found his footing in the program. He finished his BS Physics in 2007, then immediately pursued a DOST-SEI graduate studies’ scholarship. Under the mentorship of Dr. Reynaldo M. Vequizo, he explored the properties of zinc sulfide and its transformation into zinc oxide—his first real step into materials science.
His master’s thesis in Physics later won First Place in the DOST-PCASTRD (now PCIEERD) Outstanding Thesis and Dissertation Competition, besting entries from top universities in the country.
Forging a Path in Research
Encouraged by his mentors, Dr. Candidato chose academia over industry. He began teaching at MSU-IIT in 2009 and found fulfillment in mentoring young and future physicists. His curiosity led him deeper into materials research and, later, to plasma spray technology—a field that would define his scientific career.
By 2014, a collaboration between MSU-IIT and the University of Limoges in France opened the door for him to pursue a doctorate degree on bioactive and bioceramic materials. Moving abroad was challenging, but he thrived. His research on zinc-doped hydroxyapatite coatings for biomedical implants—adding antibacterial properties through plasma spraying—was groundbreaking.
After earning his doctorate degree in 2017, he chose to return home, determined to bring his knowledge back to the Philippines. He helped establish research collaborations, co-founded the Nano Society of the Philippines, and worked to integrate plasma spray technology into local innovation systems.
His expertise later led to a collaboration with the Advanced Manufacturing in Medicine Laboratory at Zamboanga City Medical Center, where he applied plasma spraying to 3D-printed PEEK (polyether ether ketone) as mandibular implants. Through this process, he coated PEEK with bioactive materials, allowing them to be safely fitted into the human body without being rejected as foreign objects.
In 2025, his dedication was recognized when he was named one of the Outstanding Young Scientists (OYS) by the National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines (NAST PHL)—a distinction that affirmed his years of hard work, leadership, and mentorship.
Grounded in Family, Driven by Purpose
Outside of work, Dr. Candidato remains deeply family-oriented. His mornings begin early—preparing breakfast, driving his wife to work and his children to school, and fetching them afterward. He proudly takes on the roles of cook, driver, and market-goer, setting aside what he calls a “holy hours” for his family each day.
In his free time, he enjoys watching sports, especially basketball and volleyball, and encouraging his youngest child to stay active in sports, like swimming, badminton and basketball. He also keeps a close eye on politics and social issues, believing that governance and science are deeply interconnected.
“If we have sound policies, we can achieve scientific progress—and scientific progress, in turn, inspires better policymaking,” he explains. “Innovation begins when governance values knowledge.”
Message to the Youth
“To the young minds out there,” Dr. Candidato urges, “pursue a career in science and engineering. We need more innovators like you to advance scientific progress—for our country, for humankind, and for the environment.”
He reminds aspiring scientists that research must serve both people and the planet. “Protect our Earth through science. Choose a path that benefits not just ourselves, but the generations to come. And in particular,” he adds with a smile, “I encourage you to explore Physics—join us.”
Dulce D. Elazegui
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Sex: Female
Field of Specialization:
Water governance,
Food and agriculture policy,
Climate change adaptation,
Science and technology
Researches:
Article title: Revitalizing Philippine Irrigation: A Systems and Governance Assessment for the 21st Century
Authors: Briones, Roehlano M.
Publication title: Revitalizing Philippine Irrigation: A Systems and Governance Assessment for the 21st Century, 2021
Full text link https://tinyurl.com/25k8f27j
Article title: Communal Irrigation Systems
Authors: Roger A. Luyun Jr. and Dulce D. Elazegui
Publication title: Revitalizing Philippine Irrigation: A Systems and Governance Assessment for the 21st Century (pp.69-96), January 2021
Full text link https://tinyurl.com/4axce2cz
Article title: Issues on communal irrigation systems in the Philippines
Authors: Roger A. Luyun Jr. and Dulce D. Elazegui
Publication title: Philippine Institute for Development Studies: Policy Notes 7, 2019
Full text link https://tinyurl.com/5325hnv4
Article title: Opportunities and Challenges in Socially Inclusive Innovation: The Case of Genetically Modified Corn in the Philippines
Authors: Linda M. Peñalba and Dulce D. Elazegui
Publication title: Biotechnology (pp.1541-1555), January 2019
Article title: Impact of the closed fishing season policy for sardines in Zamboanga Peninsula, Philippines
Authors: Agnes C. Rola, Teresita A. Narvaez, Maria Rio A. Naguit, Dulce D. Elazegui, Bing Baltazar C. Brillo, Merlyne M. Paunlagui, Hadji C. Jalotjot, Catherine P. Cervantes
Publication title: Marine Policy 87:40-50, 2018
Full text available upon request to the author/s
Article title: Policy and Institutional Challenges in Climate Information Services Provisioning in Philippine Agriculture
Authors: Dulce D. Elazegui, Agnes C. Rola, Roger A. Luyun, Jr., Nico Jayson C. Anastacio, Francis John F. Faderogao, and Maria Cristina A. Alvarez
Publication title: Journal of Public Affairs and Development 4:51-79, 2017
Full text link https://tinyurl.com/2v46kyds
Article title: Enhancing institutional dynamics for multiple uses of water amidst climate-related risks: The case of Lake Buhi, Philippines
Authors: Dulce D. Elazegui, Agnes C. Rola, Erica Allis
Publication title: Lakes & Reservoirs Research & Management 21(3):224-234, September 2016
Full text available upon request to the author/s
Article title: Assessing the formulation and implementation of the closed fishing season policy for sardines in Zamboanga Peninsula, Philippines
Authors: Bing Baltazar C. Brillo, Dulce Elazegui, Catherine Cervantes, Agnes Rola
Publication title: Philippine Journal of Science 145(4):395-404, 2016
Full text link https://tinyurl.com/4y5eva3t
Article title: The Role of Agricultural Public Extension in a Private-Led Technological Innovation
Authors: Rowena dela Torre Baconguis , Linda M. Peñalba , Dulce D. Elazegui ,
and Elvira E. Dumayas
Publication title: Developing Country Perspectives on Public Service Delivery, Chapter 14, 2015
Full text link https://tinyurl.com/ynyyb7vw
Article title: Opportunities and Challenges in Socially Inclusive Innovation: The Case of Genetically Modified Corn in the Philippines
Authors: Linda M. Peñalba, Dulce D. Elazegui
Publication title: Quality Innovation: Knowledge, Theory, and Practices, 2014
Full text available upon request to the author/s
Article title: Social and institutional dimensions of climate change adaptation
Authors: Linda M. Peñalba, Dulce D. Elazegui, Juan M. Pulhin, Rex Victor O. Cruz
Publication title: International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management 4(3):308-322, July 2012
Full text available upon request to the author/s
Article title: Seed System, Production and Marketing of Eggplant in Three Major Producing Provinces in the Philippines
Authors: Agnes R. Chupungco, Dulce D. Elazegui, and Miriam R. Nguyen
Publication title: Crop Protection Newsletter 36(2):37-47
Full text available upon request to the author/s
Article title: Innovations in Seed Systems for Potential Biotechnology Products: The Case of Genetically Modified Papaya in the Philippines
Authors: Agnes C. Rola, Dulce D. Elazegui, Miriam R. Nguyen, Pablito M. Magdalita, Elvira E. Dumayas, Agnes R. Chupungco
Publication title: Crop Protection Newsletter 35(1):80-91, April 2010
Full text available upon request to the author/s
Article title: Consequences of Bt Cotton Technology Importation
Authors: Miriam Nguyen, Dulce Elazegu, Rogelio Tagarino, Agnes Rola
Publication title: Philippine Agricultural Scientist 93(1):9-21, March 2010
Full text available upon request to the author/s
Dr. Ma. Daisy Pedroso-Tabuena
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Sex: Female
Education:
- Electromyography and Dystonia, University of Tokushima, 2004
- Post-Graduate Fellowship Training in Electromyography, University of Tokushima, 2003
- Fellowship in Neurology, University of the East - Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Hospital, 1999
- Residency, West Visayas State University Hospital, 1995
- Doctor of Medicine, West Visayas State University, 1991
- Bachelor of Science in Biology, University of San Agustin, 1987
Field of Specialization
Internal Medicine
Adult Neurologist
Electromyography and Nerve Conduction Studies